聖伯鐸廣場

九一　改　變

一位歷史學家來訪，他存心來找大師辯論。

「我們的努力將改變人類的歷史，不是嗎？」他如此質詢。

「是的。」大師說。

「人為的努力已改變了我們的地球，不是嗎？」

「不錯！」大師說。

「那麼你為什麼還說：人為的努力無法挽囘大局？」

大師說：「因為，風縱然停止了，樹葉還是照常落下。」

CHANGE

The visiting historian was disposed to be argumentative.

“Do not our efforts change the course of human history?” he demanded.

“Oh yes, they do.” said the Master.

“And have not our human labours changed the earth?”

“They certainly have.” said the Master.

“Then why do you teach that human effort is of little consequence?”

Said the Master, “Because when the wind subsides, the leaves still fall.”

九０　分　離

大師的言論常常不得政府的歡心，終於他被驅逐出境了。

弟子們問他是否會染上鄉愁。大師說：「不會。」

「一個人如果不知懷鄕，是違反人性的。」他們如此反駁。 於是大師說：「如果你真能以天下為家，你就永遠不會淪落到放逐的厄運

SEPARATION

The Master’s teachings did not find favour with the Government that had him
banished from his country.

To disciples who asked if he never felt nostalgia the Master said. “No.”

“But it is inhuman not to miss one’s home,” they protested.

To which the Master said. “You cease to be an exile when you discover that creation is
your home.”

　　　　八九　透　視

大師心境總是歡欣愉悅，弟子們不禁懷疑：難道他從未失意過？於是他們問。

是的，他也有失意的時候。

可是弟子們深信大師確實常處於一種永恆的快樂中。

這也是真的。

他們想要知道其中的秘訣。

大師說：「這就是秘訣：事情的好壞全憑你對它的看法。」

PERSPECTIVE

The Master was in a mellow mood and the disciples were inquisitive. Did he ever feel
depressed, they asked.

He did.

Wasn’t it also true that he was in a continual state of happiness, they persisted.

It was.

What was the secret, they wanted to know.

Said the Master, “This: everything is as good or as bad as one ‘ s opinion makes it. “

八八　造化之工

大師常被人們視為改革派，避免引起政府的敵視。

有人問他，為什麼不乾脆積極參加社會革命，他以一首詩的格言答覆：

「靜坐無所事，

    春來草自青。」

CREATION

The Master was known to side with the revolutionaries even at the risk of incurring the
displeasure of the government.

When someone asked him why he himself did not actively plunge into social
revolution he replied with this enigmatic proverb:

“Sitting quietly doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows.”

　　　　八七　分　別

大師與他的一羣弟子在河邊散步。

他說：「看，這些魚兒隨心所欲地游來游去，這才是真正的快樂。」

一旁的路人聽到這話便反唇相激：「你又不是魚，你怎知魚快樂與否？」

弟子們驚異地瞪着這魯莽的傢伙。大師卻含笑注視這一無所懼地追根究柢的人。

他親切答覆：「我的朋友，你又不是我，你怎麼知道我不是魚？」

弟子們不禁笑了，認為他罪有應得，這位路人卻怔在那兒沉思話中深意。

他整天反覆咀嚼此言。然後登門造訪：「也許你並非如我所想的，與魚截然不同，而我與你，也非相異過甚。」

DISTINCTION

The Master was strolling with some of his disciples along the bank of a river.

He said. “See how the fish keep darting about when they please. That’s what they
really enjoy.”

A stranger overhearing that remark said. “How do you know what fish enjoy — you‘re
not a fish?”

The disciples gasped at what they took for impudence. The Master smiled at what he
recognized as a fearless spirit of enquiry.

He replied affably. “And you my friend, how do you know I am not a fish — you are
not I?”

The disciples laughed, taking this to be a well-deserved rebuff. Only the stranger was
struck by its depth.

All day he pondered it then came to the monastery to say. “Maybe you are not as
different from the fish as I thought. Or I from you.”

　　　　八六　無　執

大師本身的生活極其純樸，卻從不鄙視他的豪富弟子，門徒們感到有趣。

「成為一個旣富又聖的人，雖寥寥可數，並非不可能。」有一天，大師如是說。

「如何才能達到此境？」

「當金錢對你心靈的影響力，一如竹蔭拂過天井。」

弟子們轉身向庭院望去，竹蔭拂過，卻未激起一絲塵埃。

DETACHMENT

It intrigued the disciples that the Master who lived so simply would not condemn his
wealthy followers.

“It is rare but not impossible for someone to be rich and holy.” he said one day.
“How?”

“When money has the effect on his heart that the shadow of that bamboo has on the
courtyard.”

The disciples turned to watch the bamboo’s shadow sweep the courtyard without
stirring a single particle of dust.

八五　大夢初醒

大師灑脫自在的風範，令他的弟子們不禁鼓起勇氣問：「你能否告訴我們，您開悟後有何所得。您變得更神聖了嗎？」

「沒有。」

「您變成一位聖人了？」

「沒有。」

「那麼究竟有何改變？」

「只是醒了。」

SLEEP-WALKING

The Master’s expansive mood emboldened his disciples to say. “Tell us what you got
from Enlightenment. Did you become divine?”

‘No.’

“Did you become a saint?”

No.”

“Then what did you become?”

“Awake.”

八四　覺　醒

「救恩應由行動獲得，還是由祈禱？」

「都不是。救恩來自於正見。」

「見什麼？」

「看見你所盼望的項鍊正掛在頸項上；看見你所畏懼的蛇，不過是地上的一根繩子而已。」

AWARENESS

“Is salvation obtained through action or through meditation?”

“Through neither. Salvation comes from seeing.

“Seeing what?”

“That the gold necklace you wish to acquire is hanging round your neck. That the
snake you are so frightened of is only a rope on the ground.”

八三　投　入

「如何才能除去我的恐懼？」
「你怎能除去一樣自己緊抓不捨的東西？」
「你是說，是我自己緊抓不捨恐懼？這恕我難以苟同。」

「只要想一想，你的恐懼所能帶領你逃避的麻煩，你就會同意我的話了。而且你會看到自己有多蠢！」

INVESTMENT

“How shall I rid myself of fear?”

“How can you rid yourself of what you cling to?”

“You mean I actually cling to my fears? I cannot agree to that. “

“Consider what your fear protects you from and you will agree! And you will see your
folly.”

八二　遙　控　

有個弟子個性怯懦，他想尋回自信心，大師說：「你想由他人的眼神中獲得肯定，而且認為這就是自信。」
「難道我不該重視別人的意見？」
「正好相反，重視別人所說的，但不受它的箝制。」
「該如何突破別人的箝制？」

「你該問：如何突破自己的錯覺？」

REMOTE CONTROL

To a shy disciple who wanted to become self-confident the Master said, “You look for
certainty in the eyes of others and you think that is self-confidence.”

“Shall I give no weight to the opinion of others then?”

“On the contrary. Weigh everything they say, but do not be controlled by it.”

“How does one break the control?’

“How does one break a delusion?’